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Go to My Grave
Donna Weaver has put everything into The Breakers, a Bed and Breakfast that she and her mother are opening on a remote stretch of beach. Now it waits - freshly painted, richly furnished, filled with flowers.
But as the guests arrive, they feel like they've been here before. Amid home-baked scones, gorgeous guest rooms, and lavish dinners fit for a king, the feeling of menace grows.
Someone has broken their vow. Someone is playing games. And then the games turn deadly...
But as the guests arrive, they feel like they've been here before. Amid home-baked scones, gorgeous guest rooms, and lavish dinners fit for a king, the feeling of menace grows.
Someone has broken their vow. Someone is playing games. And then the games turn deadly...
297 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2018
68 people are currently reading
1075 people want to read
About the author
Catriona McPherson
52 books526 followersCatriona McPherson (she/her) was born in Scotland and immigrated to the US in 2010. She writes: preposterous 1930s private-detective stories about a toff; realistic 1940s amateur-sleuth stories about an oik; and contemporary psychothriller standalones. These are all set in Scotland with a lot of Scottish weather. She also writes modern comedies about a Scot-out-of-water in a “fictional” college town in Northern California.
She has won multiple Anthonys, Agathas, Leftys and Macavitys for her work and been shortlisted for an Edgar, three Mary Higgins Clark awards and a UK dagger
Catriona is a proud lifetime member and former national president of Sisters in Crime.
She has won multiple Anthonys, Agathas, Leftys and Macavitys for her work and been shortlisted for an Edgar, three Mary Higgins Clark awards and a UK dagger
Catriona is a proud lifetime member and former national president of Sisters in Crime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
October 13, 2018
Characters we love to hate, and this book presents numerable choices. A new B&B, Donna and her mother bought and spruced up this old house, and are now expecting their first guests. A 10th Anniversary party, attended by a group of family members, all of similar age. Things are prepared, even though Donna's Mom leaves her in charge to attend a conference on the hotel industry in order to drum up some more bookings. Although Donna is a little hesitant to attempt this on her own, the house looks lovely, the menu mostly planned. What could possibly go wrong? And then they begin arriving.........
I love how this suthor puts her stories together, building layer upon layer, discovery upon discovery. There are secrets here, always secrets, but these cousins and spouses have a history, a locked box where the secrets are kept, so to speak. But it seems someone has decided to let some of them out in a terrifying manner. Can one believe one's own eyes?
Darkly atmospheric, things appear, disappear, we're they ever really there? The tension builds, some past history is exposed. Like Donna, we are confused, this author is so good at keeping the reader off balance. One of a handful of authors whose psychological thrillers I always look forward to reading.
ARC from Netgalley.
I love how this suthor puts her stories together, building layer upon layer, discovery upon discovery. There are secrets here, always secrets, but these cousins and spouses have a history, a locked box where the secrets are kept, so to speak. But it seems someone has decided to let some of them out in a terrifying manner. Can one believe one's own eyes?
Darkly atmospheric, things appear, disappear, we're they ever really there? The tension builds, some past history is exposed. Like Donna, we are confused, this author is so good at keeping the reader off balance. One of a handful of authors whose psychological thrillers I always look forward to reading.
ARC from Netgalley.
December 1, 2018
There’s nothing more important than family, they say... But I think the suspenseful thriller Go to My Grave will have you questioning that assumption. To say the main family in this book is dysfunctional is an understatement. This book has a whole cast of unreliable narrators isolated in a bed and breakfast for the weekend, and surrounded by mysterious happenings. This book has a vintage feel that I quite enjoyed! A cast of characters—all with secrets to keep—and a host left to sort through the mystery. And the twists! Gosh are they dark!
About the Book
Donna and her mother have finally realized their dream of opening a coastal bed and breakfast. They’ve purchased a house they call The Breakers, located on a remote stretch of beach. With pops of soft lavender, fresh flowers, and luxury accommodations, The Breakers is sure to be a go-to getaway destination.
On their first weekend open they have a group of guests celebrating their cousin’s Sasha’s birthday. But as the guests arrive, Donna begins to wonder about the family. They’ve been here before, they say. Something familiar about the house and beach—a summer getaway twenty-five years earlier. And a secret that they have sworn to keep to their graves.
Amidst lavish meals and white-glove service, mysterious events begin to occur. One of them has arranged this weekend on purpose, and that person is ready to reveal the secrets from so many years ago...
Reflection
Well this is quite a book! Dark and atmospheric, with a seriously twisted family at the center of it all. By the end I found myself SHOCKED by the things that were revealed. And the mystery itself was unsettling—the weekend shrouded in a mist of uncertainty that keeps the reader guessing.
Then we have the flashbacks to 1991—the week that the family was here the last time. The house had a different name, different owners, and a different feel, but it was the same house. And we all know that some buildings seem to have a memory of their own. It seems inevitable that this family would return here and all of their secrets would come back to life—lurking away in the ebb and flow of the tide, up inside of the fireplace, and hidden in locked cupboards. Someone wants to reveal the truth, and the question is if they can be silenced in time.
Another unsettling but wonderful element to this novel is having Donna as the narrator and protagonist. Donna is actually the lone shining beacon in this novel. She is untainted by the grime that seems to cover this family, and the secrets they’ve kept locked away. Donna is new to the family, so she doesn’t have the backstory to fill us in on any details. Donna is pure, and because of that, she is a fantastic narrator. We see the story unfold through her eyes, without preconceived ideas or bias. And with a cast as unreliable as this one, Donna is a much-needed guide through the mystery!
You won’t really find many to root for in this novel. This family is seriously twisted! But by the end, I think you’ll find sympathy in characters you’d never believe that you’d empathize with. And that is really credit to Catriona McPherson’s writing!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and St Martin’s Press for my copy to review.
About the Book
Donna and her mother have finally realized their dream of opening a coastal bed and breakfast. They’ve purchased a house they call The Breakers, located on a remote stretch of beach. With pops of soft lavender, fresh flowers, and luxury accommodations, The Breakers is sure to be a go-to getaway destination.
On their first weekend open they have a group of guests celebrating their cousin’s Sasha’s birthday. But as the guests arrive, Donna begins to wonder about the family. They’ve been here before, they say. Something familiar about the house and beach—a summer getaway twenty-five years earlier. And a secret that they have sworn to keep to their graves.
Amidst lavish meals and white-glove service, mysterious events begin to occur. One of them has arranged this weekend on purpose, and that person is ready to reveal the secrets from so many years ago...
Reflection
Well this is quite a book! Dark and atmospheric, with a seriously twisted family at the center of it all. By the end I found myself SHOCKED by the things that were revealed. And the mystery itself was unsettling—the weekend shrouded in a mist of uncertainty that keeps the reader guessing.
Then we have the flashbacks to 1991—the week that the family was here the last time. The house had a different name, different owners, and a different feel, but it was the same house. And we all know that some buildings seem to have a memory of their own. It seems inevitable that this family would return here and all of their secrets would come back to life—lurking away in the ebb and flow of the tide, up inside of the fireplace, and hidden in locked cupboards. Someone wants to reveal the truth, and the question is if they can be silenced in time.
Another unsettling but wonderful element to this novel is having Donna as the narrator and protagonist. Donna is actually the lone shining beacon in this novel. She is untainted by the grime that seems to cover this family, and the secrets they’ve kept locked away. Donna is new to the family, so she doesn’t have the backstory to fill us in on any details. Donna is pure, and because of that, she is a fantastic narrator. We see the story unfold through her eyes, without preconceived ideas or bias. And with a cast as unreliable as this one, Donna is a much-needed guide through the mystery!
You won’t really find many to root for in this novel. This family is seriously twisted! But by the end, I think you’ll find sympathy in characters you’d never believe that you’d empathize with. And that is really credit to Catriona McPherson’s writing!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and St Martin’s Press for my copy to review.
October 24, 2018
Go to My Grave by Catriona McPherson is a thriller that gives the reader a group of unreliable characters and puts them into close proximity to keep the reader guessing. This one also takes this set up to a new level in which you not only have the current timeline but also one from the past with a different point of view in each timeline.
In the present timeline of the story Donna Weaver has put everything into remodeling and old bed and breakfast and is anticipating the opening. When her guests begin to arrived Donna finds that she has a house full of cousins who seem to have been to the property years ago and carry a secret from that time.
In 1991 this group was together at the same location for a sixteenth birthday party. That night of the party started out well but things eventually got out of hand and ended in a girl walking into the sea. Those left vowed to cover up the secrets of that night but now returning to the scene it seems someone is looking for the truth.
Go to My Grave is one of those atmospheric and dark tales that should keep a reader guessing on who to trust with no one seeming reliable. However, there really is a fine line between and untrustworthy/suspicious character and more of what I found here which was simply unlikable. I have trouble enjoying a story tremendously when I don’t care if the suspects become victims or not and that would be a case here. There’s an ok mystery behind the characters but I would have preferred connecting to them a bit more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In the present timeline of the story Donna Weaver has put everything into remodeling and old bed and breakfast and is anticipating the opening. When her guests begin to arrived Donna finds that she has a house full of cousins who seem to have been to the property years ago and carry a secret from that time.
In 1991 this group was together at the same location for a sixteenth birthday party. That night of the party started out well but things eventually got out of hand and ended in a girl walking into the sea. Those left vowed to cover up the secrets of that night but now returning to the scene it seems someone is looking for the truth.
Go to My Grave is one of those atmospheric and dark tales that should keep a reader guessing on who to trust with no one seeming reliable. However, there really is a fine line between and untrustworthy/suspicious character and more of what I found here which was simply unlikable. I have trouble enjoying a story tremendously when I don’t care if the suspects become victims or not and that would be a case here. There’s an ok mystery behind the characters but I would have preferred connecting to them a bit more.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
October 25, 2018
Atmospheric, menacing, and twisty!
Go To My Grave is an ominous, character-driven thriller that delves into the complex dynamics between friends and family and highlights just how parasitic some of those relationships can truly be.
The prose is gritty and taut. The characters are deceptive, plagued, and self-involved. And the plot using a back-and-forth, past/present style does a nice job of building tension as it unfolds a tortuous tale of friendship, lies, secrets, manipulation, jealousy, obsession, revenge, violence, and murder.
There is no doubt that McPherson can weave a suspicious tale that’s dark, gloomy, and tragic and highlights the scheming, selfish, dark side of human nature. And even though I thought the storyline itself was quite clever, unfortunately for me the lack of characters with any sort of moral or ethical conscience in Go To My Grave made it a little hard to like, connect, or even want to root for any of them.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Go To My Grave is an ominous, character-driven thriller that delves into the complex dynamics between friends and family and highlights just how parasitic some of those relationships can truly be.
The prose is gritty and taut. The characters are deceptive, plagued, and self-involved. And the plot using a back-and-forth, past/present style does a nice job of building tension as it unfolds a tortuous tale of friendship, lies, secrets, manipulation, jealousy, obsession, revenge, violence, and murder.
There is no doubt that McPherson can weave a suspicious tale that’s dark, gloomy, and tragic and highlights the scheming, selfish, dark side of human nature. And even though I thought the storyline itself was quite clever, unfortunately for me the lack of characters with any sort of moral or ethical conscience in Go To My Grave made it a little hard to like, connect, or even want to root for any of them.
Thank you to NetGalley, especially Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2018
I was definitely intrigued by this novel right away. I absolutely loved the gothic mystery vibe that McPherson has going on for her readers at play here.
I had fun with this one! It also reminded me of Clue...where people are staying at a hotel/home and have to figure out who is behind the murders and games.
Donna is attempting a new business with her Bed and Breakfast home open to guests. Once the guests start arriving... the weaving web of darkness and malice start to irrupt. Who is behind all the sinister games and why does it appear that the guests have been here before?
I was definitely entertained once the games and action started but unfortunately the ending was wayyy to far fetched in my opinion. It was a tad bit slow in the beginning... and I felt like there was too many little loose ends that didn't quite add up in my opinion.
I enjoyed McPherson's ability to paint a very dark sinister environment here and can definitely see her talent in this one.
Huge thank you to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Overall... 3.5 grave stars rounded down on this one!
Publication date: 10/23/18
Published to GR: 9/30/18
I had fun with this one! It also reminded me of Clue...where people are staying at a hotel/home and have to figure out who is behind the murders and games.
Donna is attempting a new business with her Bed and Breakfast home open to guests. Once the guests start arriving... the weaving web of darkness and malice start to irrupt. Who is behind all the sinister games and why does it appear that the guests have been here before?
I was definitely entertained once the games and action started but unfortunately the ending was wayyy to far fetched in my opinion. It was a tad bit slow in the beginning... and I felt like there was too many little loose ends that didn't quite add up in my opinion.
I enjoyed McPherson's ability to paint a very dark sinister environment here and can definitely see her talent in this one.
Huge thank you to Minotaur/St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Overall... 3.5 grave stars rounded down on this one!
Publication date: 10/23/18
Published to GR: 9/30/18
November 28, 2019
Set-up like murder mystery play, almost all the scenes are at one house (or just outside it) and we have a very limited number of characters (8 or so I think). And yet I still had trouble keeping track of the all the names. Go to My Grave jumps between present day and flashbacks to when the same same group of visitors to the house were teens. Unfortunately many nicknames are used between the flashbacks and present day. Thus I had a hard time keeping track of who was who until about the halfway point when things started to click.
Plot
There is a clever little twist at the end of this slow burning story. I’m tickled that I guessed the twist at 85% and felt very smart because of it (yep I'm a loser, lol). Unlike some books, when I guess the ending, I didn’t feel at all ripped off. It’s a very clever ending reveal and fits perfectly into the narrative. Catriona McPherson has done a wonderful job here of ensuring there are no cheap, unexplained or odd moments that don't fit into a logical framework of the story and align with what the reader knows of the events that transpired in the far and recent past.
Characters
With a set cast of characters, like in Go To the Grave, you usually expect to have the typical archetypes. McPherson has done a decent job of breaking the mold of the typical archetypes (ie: ditz, jock, weirdo, smart, etc.) and instead creates people who are more complex and reflect what real people are like. While I couldn't tell you a single name of a character (I'm awful with names, lol); it didn't matter because while I was immersed in the last half of the book I was following what was happening. I enjoyed the details included for each character regarding their issues, quirks and personal challenges.
Ambiance
The one thing I would have liked more of in Go To My Grave was creepiness. There is some and a few moments where things click together that is a bit too coincidental and has a creep factor; but at no time do I really remember finding it quite as creepy as I was hoping. Given the title, cover look and overall blurb of the story I expected something more. Although items randomly showing up or disappearing from rooms no one has been in does border on creepy...
Overall
The best part about Go to My Grave is that it features a dysfunctional group of family and friends. Not unlike Netflix take on The Haunting of Hill House; there is something both disturbing and comforting about a messed up family. It reminds me that everyone has a screwed up family (thank goodness!) and that we are all compensating or struggling with people and situations we've been forced into. The moral of the novel is that lying or covering up events is a poor choice as things don't just undo themselves and are never forgotten. A good reminder to all of us, regardless of age, that we've all made poor choices and hiding them is likely not a good choice; as what happens when they come back to haunt us?
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Plot
There is a clever little twist at the end of this slow burning story. I’m tickled that I guessed the twist at 85% and felt very smart because of it (yep I'm a loser, lol). Unlike some books, when I guess the ending, I didn’t feel at all ripped off. It’s a very clever ending reveal and fits perfectly into the narrative. Catriona McPherson has done a wonderful job here of ensuring there are no cheap, unexplained or odd moments that don't fit into a logical framework of the story and align with what the reader knows of the events that transpired in the far and recent past.
Characters
With a set cast of characters, like in Go To the Grave, you usually expect to have the typical archetypes. McPherson has done a decent job of breaking the mold of the typical archetypes (ie: ditz, jock, weirdo, smart, etc.) and instead creates people who are more complex and reflect what real people are like. While I couldn't tell you a single name of a character (I'm awful with names, lol); it didn't matter because while I was immersed in the last half of the book I was following what was happening. I enjoyed the details included for each character regarding their issues, quirks and personal challenges.
Ambiance
The one thing I would have liked more of in Go To My Grave was creepiness. There is some and a few moments where things click together that is a bit too coincidental and has a creep factor; but at no time do I really remember finding it quite as creepy as I was hoping. Given the title, cover look and overall blurb of the story I expected something more. Although items randomly showing up or disappearing from rooms no one has been in does border on creepy...
Overall
The best part about Go to My Grave is that it features a dysfunctional group of family and friends. Not unlike Netflix take on The Haunting of Hill House; there is something both disturbing and comforting about a messed up family. It reminds me that everyone has a screwed up family (thank goodness!) and that we are all compensating or struggling with people and situations we've been forced into. The moral of the novel is that lying or covering up events is a poor choice as things don't just undo themselves and are never forgotten. A good reminder to all of us, regardless of age, that we've all made poor choices and hiding them is likely not a good choice; as what happens when they come back to haunt us?
To read this and more of my reviews visit my blog at Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
November 12, 2018
Present Day: The story begins with the protagonist, Donna Weaver. She is hosting a family reunion weekend for eight people. Donna and her mother own and run "The Breakers" a refurbished guest house near the sea in Galloway. Her mother is attending a trade fair, so Donna is left to host, cook, and clean for the event on her own. She enjoys her job and takes the sudden turn of events as a challenge that she has every confidence of meeting.
She has a few qualms however when she meets the guests. They are an odd lot. Siblings and cousins, with spouses, they bicker and insult each other constantly. They quickly realize that they have been in this house before... twenty-five years before... Despite their dire memories of the place, they are somewhat charmed by Donna's efforts, the great food and drink, and the ambiance of the guest house which comes complete with wild black rabbits on the lawn and its own private beach.
The ensemble agree to surrender their 'devices' (laptops, phones, etc.) to Donna for the weekend in order that they can 'chill' and enjoy the family weekend. Things turn mysterious when several pranks develop. No one will take responsibility for the pranks, which turn nastier and nastier, and which are upsetting to some of the guests more than others. Donna realizes that perhaps they aren't so antagonistic as they are afraid...
The 'pranks' turn deadly serious. Donna fears that her business is doomed from the first round of guests.
1991: "The Breakers" went by a different name back then. We meet two young local girls whose mother cleans for the guest house. A rich family have rented it and are hosting a birthday party for their sixteen year old son. The two girls, Carmen (age 14) and Lyndsay (age 12) are invited to even out the numbers for the party. When they arrive they realize that the parents have gone off and left the teenagers to party unsupervised. As is predictable, they soon get out of control - then tragedy and trauma result...
MY THOUGHTS
Ever since reading "The day she died", I have been a huge fan of Catriona McPherson. I've enjoyed all of her books, though none quite so much as that one.
The first half of this novel was a bit of a slog for me, but the second half more than made up for it. I really enjoyed the 'country guest house' setting. Scotland beside the sea - what more could you ask for really? I also enjoyed the tried and tested idea of the closed circle of suspects and the way that the protagonist put up with all their griping. I learned a lot about the hospitality industry, and admire anyone who chooses that as a career. I really enjoyed the dual timeline in this case, though I suspected how they would be linked, and I was partly correct. The ending was not quite as cohesive as I would have hoped for, but that is just me. A novel of crimes kept secret, childhood trauma, and sweet revenge. Overall I would recommend this title to all who like a good mystery.
3.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads
I received a complimentary digital copy of this title from Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in consideration of a review.
She has a few qualms however when she meets the guests. They are an odd lot. Siblings and cousins, with spouses, they bicker and insult each other constantly. They quickly realize that they have been in this house before... twenty-five years before... Despite their dire memories of the place, they are somewhat charmed by Donna's efforts, the great food and drink, and the ambiance of the guest house which comes complete with wild black rabbits on the lawn and its own private beach.
The ensemble agree to surrender their 'devices' (laptops, phones, etc.) to Donna for the weekend in order that they can 'chill' and enjoy the family weekend. Things turn mysterious when several pranks develop. No one will take responsibility for the pranks, which turn nastier and nastier, and which are upsetting to some of the guests more than others. Donna realizes that perhaps they aren't so antagonistic as they are afraid...
The 'pranks' turn deadly serious. Donna fears that her business is doomed from the first round of guests.
1991: "The Breakers" went by a different name back then. We meet two young local girls whose mother cleans for the guest house. A rich family have rented it and are hosting a birthday party for their sixteen year old son. The two girls, Carmen (age 14) and Lyndsay (age 12) are invited to even out the numbers for the party. When they arrive they realize that the parents have gone off and left the teenagers to party unsupervised. As is predictable, they soon get out of control - then tragedy and trauma result...
MY THOUGHTS
Ever since reading "The day she died", I have been a huge fan of Catriona McPherson. I've enjoyed all of her books, though none quite so much as that one.
The first half of this novel was a bit of a slog for me, but the second half more than made up for it. I really enjoyed the 'country guest house' setting. Scotland beside the sea - what more could you ask for really? I also enjoyed the tried and tested idea of the closed circle of suspects and the way that the protagonist put up with all their griping. I learned a lot about the hospitality industry, and admire anyone who chooses that as a career. I really enjoyed the dual timeline in this case, though I suspected how they would be linked, and I was partly correct. The ending was not quite as cohesive as I would have hoped for, but that is just me. A novel of crimes kept secret, childhood trauma, and sweet revenge. Overall I would recommend this title to all who like a good mystery.
3.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads
I received a complimentary digital copy of this title from Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in consideration of a review.
October 17, 2018
I've enjoyed other standalone novels by Catriona McPherson because she is skilled at heightening suspense and in creating characters that grab my interest. She's got plenty of suspense here in Go to My Grave, and the character of Donna Weaver certainly grabbed my interest. So, too, did the element of running a bed and breakfast on a beach in Scotland because I've enjoyed stays in more than one place like that.
The story is compelling, told in two timelines. One, in 1991, in the voice of a teenage girl invited to that fateful birthday party, and the other in the voice of Donna, the co-owner of The Breakers, in the present day. Both voices are forceful, making readers want to keep turning the pages. Both voices make readers want to know what really happened at that birthday party and who is responsible for what is happening at The Breakers now.
Unfortunately, I deduced what was going on almost immediately, and I came close to skipping to the end to find out if I was right because this group of cousins is nothing more than a pack of entitled, self-indulgent pillocks who've never taken responsibility for their actions in their entire lives. At one point, I closed the book and thought-- very loudly-- "Would someone stick a knife in that man!" because one of them is obnoxious beyond belief.
But you know what? Donna's voice kept me reading until the very end, and although this isn't one of my finest reading experiences this year, I'm glad I finished it. I will admit that, if the next book I pick up has a similar cast of characters, I won't finish reading it!
The story is compelling, told in two timelines. One, in 1991, in the voice of a teenage girl invited to that fateful birthday party, and the other in the voice of Donna, the co-owner of The Breakers, in the present day. Both voices are forceful, making readers want to keep turning the pages. Both voices make readers want to know what really happened at that birthday party and who is responsible for what is happening at The Breakers now.
Unfortunately, I deduced what was going on almost immediately, and I came close to skipping to the end to find out if I was right because this group of cousins is nothing more than a pack of entitled, self-indulgent pillocks who've never taken responsibility for their actions in their entire lives. At one point, I closed the book and thought-- very loudly-- "Would someone stick a knife in that man!" because one of them is obnoxious beyond belief.
But you know what? Donna's voice kept me reading until the very end, and although this isn't one of my finest reading experiences this year, I'm glad I finished it. I will admit that, if the next book I pick up has a similar cast of characters, I won't finish reading it!
October 19, 2018
Catriona McPherson's mind is so full of stories that she now writes two series and a stand-alone each year. And, she does it all with careful attention to detail in each book. I always thought of myself as a series person, and I do love reading series, with those characters in which you become invested over the years. But, I have to say that I always get excited about a new story with new characters from Catriona McPherson, because her imagination can draw up some dark, thrilling tales, each unlike anything I've ever read before. Go to My Grave draws on elements that are favorites of mine--an isolated country house, locked room scenario, simmering secrets, and ghosts from the past. And what you think you've figured out about the past doesn't even come close. I like being surprised, and Catriona twists it up beautifully to accomplish that.
Donna Weaver and her mother have worked hard to renovate the country house they bought overlooking the sea near Galloway in Scotland, to make it a luxury stay for guests wanting a get-away from the noise and rush of their everyday lives. Donna, who has worked in hotel customer service brings her experience and cooking talents to The Breakers, while her mother has extensive technical savvy to connect them to clients and keep clients happily wired during their visit if they so choose. The first booking is a group of eight cousins celebrating one of the cousins' ten-year wedding anniversary. Mother and daughter are ready for guests, but Donna's mother will be away that weekend to attend a wedding fair in Glasgow, to drum up business. So, Donna must be the lone proprietor for the cousins and their celebration, but she feels she's capable of handling it. Of course, nobody could have anticipated cousins like these. The anniversary couple, Sasha Mowbray and his wife Kim, are anything but the happy couple, and all the cousins, from Sasha's sister Rosalie and her husband Paul, Paul's brother Ramsey, siblings Peach and Buck, and lone wolf Jennifer seem more intent on tormenting one another than insuring one another enjoy the weekend. And, someone is playing some not-so-funny practical jokes that relate to the other time the eight cousins inhabited this house, the night of Sasha's sixteenth birthday party in 1991, another celebration that went horribly wrong twenty-five years ago.
Donna is our narrator to this dark tale, but she hasn't the knowledge to give readers the backstory of the house and the cousins' connection to it. However, with chapters reaching back to that birthday party in 1991, readers gain increasing insight into just how out of control the party got and why the cousins took oaths to keep the nightmare locked away, taking its memories to the grave. The pranks related to that birthday night grow increasingly chilling in the present-day setting, until the prankster makes revenge an unmistakable goal. The suspense created with each clue to the past is deliciously palatable, and readers of Agatha Christie and Gothic fiction will be frightfully delighted as the revelation of the prankster/tormentor grows ever closer. McPherson masterfully plays with our minds to create an edge of your seat tale. The cousins all at one time or another seem capable of bringing the secrets to light that had stayed locked away for so long. And, Donna doesn’t escape suspicion either. The bottom line is that one of those connected to this house want revenge and others want to keep the box locked and the lips stitched. Who will step from the shadows to lay bare the truth? Getting to this answer will be a thrilling journey.
I received an advanced reader's copy of Go to My Grave for an honest review, and I can honestly say that it is already on my favorites list for the year.
Donna Weaver and her mother have worked hard to renovate the country house they bought overlooking the sea near Galloway in Scotland, to make it a luxury stay for guests wanting a get-away from the noise and rush of their everyday lives. Donna, who has worked in hotel customer service brings her experience and cooking talents to The Breakers, while her mother has extensive technical savvy to connect them to clients and keep clients happily wired during their visit if they so choose. The first booking is a group of eight cousins celebrating one of the cousins' ten-year wedding anniversary. Mother and daughter are ready for guests, but Donna's mother will be away that weekend to attend a wedding fair in Glasgow, to drum up business. So, Donna must be the lone proprietor for the cousins and their celebration, but she feels she's capable of handling it. Of course, nobody could have anticipated cousins like these. The anniversary couple, Sasha Mowbray and his wife Kim, are anything but the happy couple, and all the cousins, from Sasha's sister Rosalie and her husband Paul, Paul's brother Ramsey, siblings Peach and Buck, and lone wolf Jennifer seem more intent on tormenting one another than insuring one another enjoy the weekend. And, someone is playing some not-so-funny practical jokes that relate to the other time the eight cousins inhabited this house, the night of Sasha's sixteenth birthday party in 1991, another celebration that went horribly wrong twenty-five years ago.
Donna is our narrator to this dark tale, but she hasn't the knowledge to give readers the backstory of the house and the cousins' connection to it. However, with chapters reaching back to that birthday party in 1991, readers gain increasing insight into just how out of control the party got and why the cousins took oaths to keep the nightmare locked away, taking its memories to the grave. The pranks related to that birthday night grow increasingly chilling in the present-day setting, until the prankster makes revenge an unmistakable goal. The suspense created with each clue to the past is deliciously palatable, and readers of Agatha Christie and Gothic fiction will be frightfully delighted as the revelation of the prankster/tormentor grows ever closer. McPherson masterfully plays with our minds to create an edge of your seat tale. The cousins all at one time or another seem capable of bringing the secrets to light that had stayed locked away for so long. And, Donna doesn’t escape suspicion either. The bottom line is that one of those connected to this house want revenge and others want to keep the box locked and the lips stitched. Who will step from the shadows to lay bare the truth? Getting to this answer will be a thrilling journey.
I received an advanced reader's copy of Go to My Grave for an honest review, and I can honestly say that it is already on my favorites list for the year.
November 5, 2018
Donna and her mother have spent their savings renovating a guesthouse in Galloway, Scotland. Their first group of guests is due for a anniversary party/family reunion weekend, and Donna has to handle the property by herself for the weekend as her mother is off promoting their services at a wedding convention. Unfortunately, this group apparently visited this house over 20 years ago, when something terrible happened--something they promised to never tell. As we expect, creepy stuff starts to happen, ratcheting up the family tension,. The alcohol flows, the characters snipe at each other. The chapters alternate between the present time, as Donna deals with this obnoxious group, and the weekend in 1979 when the family first visited the house..
For quite a while, I have been wanted to read one of this author's books. When I saw this one listed at NetGalley, I decided that this would be my first foray into her catalog. Unfortunately, I found it rather disappointing. Donna is the only likable character--actually, the others are barely distinguishable from each other. I also figured out the "mystery" almost from the first chapter. That being said, I could not believe the details of the ending. I don't want to post any spoilers, but ... come on--REALLY, PEOPLE?? The way the characters just accept everything at the end is preposterous.
For quite a while, I have been wanted to read one of this author's books. When I saw this one listed at NetGalley, I decided that this would be my first foray into her catalog. Unfortunately, I found it rather disappointing. Donna is the only likable character--actually, the others are barely distinguishable from each other. I also figured out the "mystery" almost from the first chapter. That being said, I could not believe the details of the ending. I don't want to post any spoilers, but ... come on--REALLY, PEOPLE?? The way the characters just accept everything at the end is preposterous.
October 25, 2018
Review: GO TO MY GRAVE by Catriona McPherson
This engrossing thriller kept me breathless to the end, as it subtly unfolded revelation after revelation, subtly mounting the terror for the characters and keeping readers puzzled but hungry for more discoveries.
A mother and daughter have purchased a seaside villa at Galloway, an older upper-class home, to operate a Bed & Breakfast. Their first scheduled event is a tenth-wedding anniversary plus family reunion. Turns out, all but the bride stayed here before, decades ago--with disastrous and ugly consequences. Now somebody is determined to reestablish the memories--and make someone pay.
This engrossing thriller kept me breathless to the end, as it subtly unfolded revelation after revelation, subtly mounting the terror for the characters and keeping readers puzzled but hungry for more discoveries.
A mother and daughter have purchased a seaside villa at Galloway, an older upper-class home, to operate a Bed & Breakfast. Their first scheduled event is a tenth-wedding anniversary plus family reunion. Turns out, all but the bride stayed here before, decades ago--with disastrous and ugly consequences. Now somebody is determined to reestablish the memories--and make someone pay.
October 14, 2018
Donna is setting up for a weekend of catering to guests in the full-service beach house rental that she owns with her mother. This weekend she is on her own to look after a group of cousins that have booked the house to celebrate a wedding anniversary. As the guests begin to arrive, she can tell something is off. There is arguing, an abusive relationship, and most of all the revelation that they have been here before, and something significant and tragic happened on their last visit twenty-five years ago. A mysterious crate of food arrives, suspicious items are found hidden around the house, and all the cell phones are missing… The novel also flashes back to 1991, and begins to piece the story together.
This novel is dark and atmospheric, and by the end I could not put it down. I found Donna to be an unreliable narrator, mainly because I was questioning everything that happened. We are not sure in the beginning if or how the girl in 1991 connects to any of the present-day characters. I was confused in many parts of this book. Some of it is intentional; we are supposed to be wondering: Who is terrorizing the guests? Is it one of them or is someone else there? What happened in this house so long ago, and was Donna involved somehow? However, there were other instances where I found the writing to be confusing- there were words I didn’t understand, and parts where I couldn’t picture the scenario clearly. It is suspenseful and surprising. I did not piece everything together by the end, and was definitely caught off guard by the big reveal. That said, it was quite out there, and I’m still not sure how some aspects fit in.
I loved the dark, haunting atmosphere that Catriona McPherson creates in Go to My Grave. It is all about the big twist, and from the beginning you know that it is coming. The foreboding is intricate and very well done. For me, it started out slowly but by the end it had turned into a unique, twisty mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is dark and atmospheric, and by the end I could not put it down. I found Donna to be an unreliable narrator, mainly because I was questioning everything that happened. We are not sure in the beginning if or how the girl in 1991 connects to any of the present-day characters. I was confused in many parts of this book. Some of it is intentional; we are supposed to be wondering: Who is terrorizing the guests? Is it one of them or is someone else there? What happened in this house so long ago, and was Donna involved somehow? However, there were other instances where I found the writing to be confusing- there were words I didn’t understand, and parts where I couldn’t picture the scenario clearly. It is suspenseful and surprising. I did not piece everything together by the end, and was definitely caught off guard by the big reveal. That said, it was quite out there, and I’m still not sure how some aspects fit in.
I loved the dark, haunting atmosphere that Catriona McPherson creates in Go to My Grave. It is all about the big twist, and from the beginning you know that it is coming. The foreboding is intricate and very well done. For me, it started out slowly but by the end it had turned into a unique, twisty mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2018
My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A dark psychological tale filled with twisted mind-games and suspense.
GO TO MY GRAVE is a slow-burning thriller intertwining the past and the present to give readers a truly haunting story.
In the beginning, I wasn't sure where things were going. There were hints of mischief happening, but I really thought it was going to be novel about the past and present of this group of people coming to The Breakers. However, about halfway through, the psychological suspense was kicked into overdrive. And let me tell you...this is the moment I became completely absorbed.
What captured me the most about this book was the way McPherson masterfully peeled away the layers to this gothic mystery. Each element and moment was so expertly crafted to come together at the end. Things which didn't seem important in the start were brought in to further complicate the story.
This is one of those books which will mess with your head in the best way possible. I cannot wait to read something else by the author.
Reviewer Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow the Highly Caffeinated Victoria Colotta:
Website | Facebook | Twitter @vcolotta | Instagram | Goodreads
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
GO TO MY GRAVE is a slow-burning thriller intertwining the past and the present to give readers a truly haunting story.
In the beginning, I wasn't sure where things were going. There were hints of mischief happening, but I really thought it was going to be novel about the past and present of this group of people coming to The Breakers. However, about halfway through, the psychological suspense was kicked into overdrive. And let me tell you...this is the moment I became completely absorbed.
What captured me the most about this book was the way McPherson masterfully peeled away the layers to this gothic mystery. Each element and moment was so expertly crafted to come together at the end. Things which didn't seem important in the start were brought in to further complicate the story.
This is one of those books which will mess with your head in the best way possible. I cannot wait to read something else by the author.
Reviewer Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Highly Caffeinated Rating of… ☕ ☕ ☕ ☕
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
Follow the Highly Caffeinated Victoria Colotta:
Website | Facebook | Twitter @vcolotta | Instagram | Goodreads
✦ ✦ ✦ ✦
October 13, 2018
I received this via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book hooked me right from the start. A beach house in a small town, a group of people with a history tied to the house, brought back under a supposed happy occasion, with dark and mysterious undertones all brought an eerie feeling to the story, and had me at the edge of my seat the whole time.
The flashbacks were intriguing, and it was interesting to see how the characters had changed (or intensified) over the 25 years. Sasha's personality made me so angry, but in the best way possible- you hate him but you also want to know what happens, what he did, and what it has all amounted to. I love the contrast of Donna's character with the others, and her need to be a perfectionist at first slowly changing as she really know these people, and gets sucked right into the middle of the twisted game.
The innocence of the teenagers, and the ignorance, sometimes willful ignorance of the older kids/adults was conveyed perfectly, though the writing could use some improvement in certain places. I love when I'm blindsided by twists and turns, because most of the time I can guess where the plot is going- and this book surprised me. It kept me guessing right through to the end, and though I did feel some parts of the ending could have been tied up better, the main twist threw me, and I loved every moment of it.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to those who want a good, thrilling book that you'll want to finish in one sitting (I did). Definitely a real page turner.
This book hooked me right from the start. A beach house in a small town, a group of people with a history tied to the house, brought back under a supposed happy occasion, with dark and mysterious undertones all brought an eerie feeling to the story, and had me at the edge of my seat the whole time.
The flashbacks were intriguing, and it was interesting to see how the characters had changed (or intensified) over the 25 years. Sasha's personality made me so angry, but in the best way possible- you hate him but you also want to know what happens, what he did, and what it has all amounted to. I love the contrast of Donna's character with the others, and her need to be a perfectionist at first slowly changing as she really know these people, and gets sucked right into the middle of the twisted game.
The innocence of the teenagers, and the ignorance, sometimes willful ignorance of the older kids/adults was conveyed perfectly, though the writing could use some improvement in certain places. I love when I'm blindsided by twists and turns, because most of the time I can guess where the plot is going- and this book surprised me. It kept me guessing right through to the end, and though I did feel some parts of the ending could have been tied up better, the main twist threw me, and I loved every moment of it.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to those who want a good, thrilling book that you'll want to finish in one sitting (I did). Definitely a real page turner.
November 14, 2018
This was good! I like it when the author lets you figure it out, but not quite all of it! Instead we get what feels like a very classic British mystery: people reunited in a country house where something took place several years prior. Then things start happening. Someone wants revenge. Who? And for what? Ms. McPherson makes sure the story doesn't feel too old by adding a few modern twists and a wicked ending. I've seen many people feel the ending is implausible and I partially agree with them; however, based on how the characters were developed and the story was written, it wouldn't be too far off base and definitely worth the read to find out for yourself!
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2019
Just brilliant
October 4, 2018
A group of people book into a remote Scottish guest house to celebrate a tenth wedding anniversary. Except, some of them have been there before and 25 years ago they were part of something bad. The sins of the past are now coming back to haunt the group of siblings and cousins. This was a bit like Christie's And Then There Were None but without the sheer amount of dead bodies. Lots of lovely twists and excellently written.
October 11, 2024
They lost me on the reveal.
February 5, 2019
Honestly, I stopped halfway through the book so I don't know if it ever got any better.
September 21, 2018
3.5 stars.
I've had an affinity for McPherson's writing for a while now, and so I jumped at the chance to read new writing from here. This novel was quite a trip. I immediately felt a kinship with Donna - she's attempting a new business venture in the Breakers, and AirBnB type of property, and wants this first booking to be everything it can be. But when the visitors realize they've been there before, and it was a traumatic ordeal, the secrets begin to tumble out. And then locked boxes arrive. And then the bloody animals. And then the body count begins...
I was WITH this book through 90% of it. The reveal was a bit far-fetched for me. I appreciated McPherson's ability to tie up loose ends, and show us the pieces that inexplicably fit together. But I did wish it wasn't such a leap. I still very much enjoyed the ride, and highly tout McPherson's writing and plotting skills, and setting this book in such a darkly picturesque locale.
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley, and Minotaur Books, in exchange for an honest review.
I've had an affinity for McPherson's writing for a while now, and so I jumped at the chance to read new writing from here. This novel was quite a trip. I immediately felt a kinship with Donna - she's attempting a new business venture in the Breakers, and AirBnB type of property, and wants this first booking to be everything it can be. But when the visitors realize they've been there before, and it was a traumatic ordeal, the secrets begin to tumble out. And then locked boxes arrive. And then the bloody animals. And then the body count begins...
I was WITH this book through 90% of it. The reveal was a bit far-fetched for me. I appreciated McPherson's ability to tie up loose ends, and show us the pieces that inexplicably fit together. But I did wish it wasn't such a leap. I still very much enjoyed the ride, and highly tout McPherson's writing and plotting skills, and setting this book in such a darkly picturesque locale.
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley, and Minotaur Books, in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2018
Go To My Grave, while an interesting read, was also a bit challenging to get through. I enjoyed the setting of The Breakers, the bed and breakfast on the beach in Galloway. The characters were a bit hard to keep track of, in part because there were so many, but there was also an incestuous vibe to the while book that was a bit off-putting for me. The mystery aspect I found intriguing and how the pace would switch from past to present, but the overall storyline also felt very long and drug out for me. The ending where things start to click together was the most interesting part of the novel, and it was pretty rushed and then just abruptly ended, and I still had a lot of questions. Overall, I put the book down feeling a little icky, to be honest, but also a little confused as to what I had just read.
I received a review copy
I received a review copy
February 6, 2019
Actually closer to 2.5. The story moves quickly and sets a eerie tone, though it is a little too “I know what you did last summer”. I would try other books by this author. The characters are mostly awful people and the rationale for them all getting together for the weekend celebration is weak given that they seem to hate each other. The “twist” was easy to figure out early on though I kept turning pages thinking there must be another surprise. The only surprise was the oddness of the the big reveal of the murderer and the other characters reactions.
February 22, 2019
DNF. I'm not the right reader for this work. The characters were jumbled and forgettable in their nastiness to each other. Couldn't keep them straight and eventually didn't care. The overuse of colloquialisms made it a jagged, halting read. I prefer things that flow.
Sometimes I couldn't even guess by context what the phrases/words were supposed to mean. Rather than an education in local slang, it was a destructive choice by the writer.
Sometimes I couldn't even guess by context what the phrases/words were supposed to mean. Rather than an education in local slang, it was a destructive choice by the writer.
October 28, 2018
I think it would have been more enjoyable had I not guessed the ending early on in the novel. The complicated and twisted family ties were crazy. Keep track of who everyone is from the beginning and how they are related. I think a lot of people will really like this book and all its family dysfunction. If you like intricate relationships with a deep mystery, this book is for you.
October 24, 2018
How am I just now finding out about Catriona McPherson?! This book was awesome. There are characters that you are going to absolutely hate but they are fun to hate them! Will definitely look for more books by Catriona
May 20, 2018
Finished this book about four hours ago and am still stunned. Absorbing and devastating. Highly recommend.
February 18, 2020
The wit, the talk over each other quality to the conversations of 6 to 8 people plus a narrator- all of that is present in this book. As it seems to be in every McPherson I've read.
This one is not my favorite, as it is just so incestuous at core. It's the same group of related by blood or marriage 6 or 7 people in two different time periods within the same "holiday" house by the sea. 1991 is the first period when they are all teenagers. The male prime has his 16th birthday party night and 2 girls from the village attend as well, two sisters. And the other period is the same 7 cousins, siblings, married now pair, people about 25 years later.
It's rather like an Agatha Christie closed room mystery. Very much alike. But this one is so complex, complicated for pranks, and threats too- that it becomes rather ludicrous rather than merely funny OR scary. Well, it did to me.
The narrator is the owner/server and hostess for the Breakers and she's in her lower 20's of age- much younger than the set she is serving.
What I loved was the service mindset and ingenious throughout thoughts consistently for her decor, food prep, utility pieces, scrubbing technique, room care and clean- all of those facets having to do with B&B or 3 meals plus snacks whole vacation rooming houses. The best and supreme aspect is the sharpness of the proprietor professional inner banter coupled with the comparisons of a high IQ stand up comic.
But what I didn't like, is that you knew from the very get-go (I did and also guessed who and why)-that it was a huge revenge plot going on. And to me, the logistics became forensics and otherwise- ridiculous.
Just try, in this day and age, to take all the smart phones, devices, keys, or landlines away from people for 2 or 3 solid days. That plan will NOT be successful.
Always Catriona McPherson has quips and language surrounds that are overplays and extremely dialect, timely smart. You can tell she knows good-looking, high self-identity and confidence, linguistics that can curl and fly both, and also recognizing the opposite conditions easily in all her characters.
Frankly what lost an entire star was the values, central mindsets, identity behaviors of ALL of these people. Thank God, I never knew such hedonistic ingrates in any way until I was at least 23. Whatever their issues, I was consistently surrounded in my neighborhood nest by "good intent". This world (and not only in this book either) by Catriona McPherson is ultimately the complete opposite of what I just described. Her people (characters) are moral voids in great numbers and the others are fodder for them. And humor binds the lot. Sometimes I just can't laugh. This was one of those times by about page 180.
This one is not my favorite, as it is just so incestuous at core. It's the same group of related by blood or marriage 6 or 7 people in two different time periods within the same "holiday" house by the sea. 1991 is the first period when they are all teenagers. The male prime has his 16th birthday party night and 2 girls from the village attend as well, two sisters. And the other period is the same 7 cousins, siblings, married now pair, people about 25 years later.
It's rather like an Agatha Christie closed room mystery. Very much alike. But this one is so complex, complicated for pranks, and threats too- that it becomes rather ludicrous rather than merely funny OR scary. Well, it did to me.
The narrator is the owner/server and hostess for the Breakers and she's in her lower 20's of age- much younger than the set she is serving.
What I loved was the service mindset and ingenious throughout thoughts consistently for her decor, food prep, utility pieces, scrubbing technique, room care and clean- all of those facets having to do with B&B or 3 meals plus snacks whole vacation rooming houses. The best and supreme aspect is the sharpness of the proprietor professional inner banter coupled with the comparisons of a high IQ stand up comic.
But what I didn't like, is that you knew from the very get-go (I did and also guessed who and why)-that it was a huge revenge plot going on. And to me, the logistics became forensics and otherwise- ridiculous.
Just try, in this day and age, to take all the smart phones, devices, keys, or landlines away from people for 2 or 3 solid days. That plan will NOT be successful.
Always Catriona McPherson has quips and language surrounds that are overplays and extremely dialect, timely smart. You can tell she knows good-looking, high self-identity and confidence, linguistics that can curl and fly both, and also recognizing the opposite conditions easily in all her characters.
Frankly what lost an entire star was the values, central mindsets, identity behaviors of ALL of these people. Thank God, I never knew such hedonistic ingrates in any way until I was at least 23. Whatever their issues, I was consistently surrounded in my neighborhood nest by "good intent". This world (and not only in this book either) by Catriona McPherson is ultimately the complete opposite of what I just described. Her people (characters) are moral voids in great numbers and the others are fodder for them. And humor binds the lot. Sometimes I just can't laugh. This was one of those times by about page 180.
January 11, 2019
Donna Weaver prepares for opening weekend at the newly remodeled bed and breakfast she operates with her mother. The house has been rented by a group of cousins celebrating a 10 year wedding anniversary. Until they arrives, the group members don't realize they were all there 25 years ago for a party. The group agrees to give up their phones and other electronics while there. Strange items begin to appear, then disappear. What's going on and what more could go wrong?
I stay in bed and breakfasts when I travel so this setting is always interesting to me. HGTV is my favorite channel so all types of renovations also interest me. The listening monitors stuck in my mind throughout the book and I wondered if the author was going to take this somewhere.
The story goes back and forth from the present gathering to a party in 1991. The family members in this story are all strange. They were not likeable in 1991 and and they're not any better 25 years later. I detected no remorse and no sense of responsibility which affected my rating of the book. I did want to know what took place at that party and who was behind the present happenings.
I stay in bed and breakfasts when I travel so this setting is always interesting to me. HGTV is my favorite channel so all types of renovations also interest me. The listening monitors stuck in my mind throughout the book and I wondered if the author was going to take this somewhere.
The story goes back and forth from the present gathering to a party in 1991. The family members in this story are all strange. They were not likeable in 1991 and and they're not any better 25 years later. I detected no remorse and no sense of responsibility which affected my rating of the book. I did want to know what took place at that party and who was behind the present happenings.
May 1, 2019
I added this to my to-read as soon as I saw the reviews labeling it as a modern interpretation of a Gothic country-house novel. This checked all the boxes I love in literary suspense: old friends/family meeting up after years apart; a creepy mansion near the sea; and a plot that seamlessly moves back and forth in time, slowly revealing the layers of the mystery. Even though I may have sensed how this story might end, I never would have followed the clues to its batshit-crazy ending. I know I've given lots of four-star ratings lately, but Catriona McPherson earned every one of these stars!
If you love this genre as much as I do, I recommend reading The Hunting Party and The House at Midnight. Both are stellar, and if you're craving even more along the same lines, Can You Keep a Secret? will do in a pinch.
If you love this genre as much as I do, I recommend reading The Hunting Party and The House at Midnight. Both are stellar, and if you're craving even more along the same lines, Can You Keep a Secret? will do in a pinch.
May 8, 2019
Donna Weaver and her mom have put everything into The Breakers, a luxury hotel, Home from Home. Eight old friends go to stay for the weekend not realising that they have been to The Breakers before twenty five years ago.
This is the type of book that I seem to be enjoying at the moment. A group of people gathering in a building with secrets and knowing that at least one will go missing or die. The story has an Agatha Christie feel about it with the classic reveal at the end. The story doesn't have the claustrophobic feel to it as the characters are not stranded and can leave at any time.
The characters are not very likeable at all apart from Donna who I did like very much. A motley crew of brothers, sisters and cousins who the reader gets to learn about what happened when they were at the house before.
I enjoyed the majority of the story, going in blind as it was a ramdom pick. The ending with the whys and hows I found a little unrealistic and at times silly. Apart from that I found the story a quick read that held my interest.
This is the type of book that I seem to be enjoying at the moment. A group of people gathering in a building with secrets and knowing that at least one will go missing or die. The story has an Agatha Christie feel about it with the classic reveal at the end. The story doesn't have the claustrophobic feel to it as the characters are not stranded and can leave at any time.
The characters are not very likeable at all apart from Donna who I did like very much. A motley crew of brothers, sisters and cousins who the reader gets to learn about what happened when they were at the house before.
I enjoyed the majority of the story, going in blind as it was a ramdom pick. The ending with the whys and hows I found a little unrealistic and at times silly. Apart from that I found the story a quick read that held my interest.
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